Champion of Poker

Whatever method you use to calculate the amount of rake you are paying per hour, remember to deduct the rakeback payment. So if for instance you are paying $12 per hour in rake in a $2-$4 limit online Texas Holdem game and getting 30% rakeback. Then deduct 30% from $12 ($3.60) and this will represent your total hourly cost of play which in this case will be $8.40. This has not taken into account any other bonuses that you may be receiving.

Of course the toughness of the games will vary greatly and also from site to site but in my experience, you really do not want to be paying much more than around two big blinds per hour in rake in most games even if you are a good player. This of course applies to the lower stakes games, the effect of the rake is greatly reduced the higher you play and this is because of the rake cap which is usually $3 in most games.

The only problem of course with playing at the bigger limits is that the effect of the rake may be greatly reduced but the opposition is also a whole lot tougher. Games at the $15-$30 level and above can be very tough to beat and once you reach the $20-$40, $25-$50 and $30-$60 levels then you are going to be locking horns with some very good players.

Before you start to look at yourself and say “well that does not bother me because I am a good player” then you better remember that being a good player online is far different than being a good player in a live casino card room. Good online players are dedicated, they data mine games relentlessly, they use trackers to get information on their opponents, they share and swap data with friends and acquaintances in online poker forums and other avenues, they use sophisticated software to improve their own game and the list goes on.

Do you have this same commitment to improving your game and doing all of the things that I have just listed? Well come on now, answer this question honestly because your future as a winning poker player online could just depend on it……do you? If you are not doing the things that I have just described and have no intention of doing them then you had better shelve all plans about playing at the middle limits and above at any form of poker online.

Playing at the middle limits online and being successful is not just about knowing your poker. Most players at those limits know the game. But the real consistent winners, the ones with the earn rates are the ones who make the effort to do all of the other things that contribute towards the making of a winning online poker player. At this moment in time, I find the $10-$20 level the best for a good strong limit player to earn money at short handed and even heads up. Look out for the third and final part of this series coming soon.

Carl “The Dean” Sampson
Author – “Winning Cash Game Poker”